Sentencing for priest, wife postponed

A provincial court judge agreed to set over sentencing until Friday for an Anglican priest and his wife who took thousands of dollars from their church.

Catherine Dinn, who hid her face, and her husband John Dinn pleaded guilty Tuesday in provincial court in St. John’s to defrauding St. John and Evangelist Church out of more than $9,000. — Photo by Rosie Mullaley/The Telegram

John and Catherine Dinn were not in court Tuesday morning. Defence lawyer Erin Breen told the court fellow lawyer Bob Simmonds advised them not to attend.

The defence requested extra time for Judge Mike Madden to take into consideration a letter from Rev. Geoffrey Peddle, bishop for the Anglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador. In it, Peddle tells John Dinn that given he entered guilty pleas on two counts of fraud and one count of theft, his privilege to serve the church within the diocese has been revoked. The letter was dated Aug. 13.

Breen told Madden the letter was only being submitted as evidence with respect to sentencing. The Crown agreed to the request to submit the letter.

The Dinns took more than $9,500 from St. John the Evangelist Church. Catherine Dinn has pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud under $5,000.

Catherine Dinn, who hid her face, and her husband John Dinn pleaded guilty Tuesday in provincial court in St. John’s to defrauding St. John and Evangelist Church out of more than $9,000. — Photo by Rosie Mullaley/The Telegram

HBG

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